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Topic: whats wrong with this plan/whats right with this plan? (Read 2226 times)

its allmost january just yesterday I took a peek at the girls they are all still alive! but the there are allready some that may be short a food storesI have sugarboards in place but some are allready being consumed now. I know I can give sugar for emergency food but I was reading in the hive and the honey bee that they may be rising some broad soon and that they can start when outside temps are below 0 deg.F I was wondering if I could just start feeding pollen and syrup now, and for the rest of the winter(I was going to spend the money on nucs anywayfor next years increases, but if this works would I end up with more bees this spring? what are the pros and cons to this? at what point does 1:1 syrup freeze? they have tarpaper on and top and bottom entrances. and otherwise seem healthy. your opinions please! o,yea and as far as not giving them enough fall prep its better left unsaid!and thank you!

If they have food and you feed now it cause only harm to hive.If it is necessay to feed it must be 60% syrup. 1:1 gives harmful moisture to the hive. They are not capable to cap syrup, it takes moisture from air and it start to ferment.

You should first weight with hand the hive and feel do bees have food enough. If you do not believe, open the inner cover and look if you see capped food on the top of frames and on side frames. As long they have food, there is no reason to feed. In nature they get no food this time.

You can compare empty hive box and your hive, what is difference. There is about 6 lbs bees in the hive.

The aim is that you feed them at autumn full of sugar and then let them be in peace untill to February or to March. - I do not know where you live but on northern hemisphere I suppose.

I live at same level 60 longitude as Anchorage in Alaska. Hives have enough food to survive from September to May without feeding.

When I disturbed bees a couple of weeks ago and I measure the temperature it rised to 43 C, then after 4 hours it was 32C and next morning 23C. Out temperature was -10C. - Not usefull at all.

Sugar won't encourage them to produce more brood. It'll only help them survive. Also, if there is plenty of food, don't let them get dependent on the feeder. They become more weak next winter. Also, if you plan on harvesting honey this upcoming fall, leave them plenty of honey for themselves if your worried about them not making it because of food supplies.

Also, if you plan on harvesting honey this upcoming fall, leave them plenty of honey for themselves

I take away all honey from hives and I give 40 lbs sugar for winter. They do well with sugar. Perhaps I leave 10 lbs honey into hives. A spring they need a lot of pollen. My bees live with sugar from September to May. It is 8 moths.